Combined leveling and bracing jack



Oct. 7, 1947. c. T. KETZ COMBINED LEVELING AND BRACING JACK Filed Aug. 4, 1944 m l l ,12 x/ /7 K F151 1"76-4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 7, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Charles T. Kct'z, Novelty, Ohio Application August 4, 1944, Serial No. 548,117

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to that class of appliances that are used for maintaining work in a fixed position onthe tables of machine tools during operation of the latter upon the work, and included among the objects of the invention is that of providing a self-contained device capable of both functions of leveling and bracing the Work,

More specifically expressed, an object of the invention is the provision of a combination leveling and bracing jack that is of simple and rigid construction, is relatively inexpensive, is very durable, is especially convenient of use, and is easily and quickly adjustable between leveling and bracing positions.

A further object of the invention is to substantially increase the range of utilityof the jack by providing a number of interchangeable caps for read application to the work engaging part of the jack, said caps being individually shaped to properly receive, cooperate with, or fit different contours of the parts of the work contacted by the jack, such as fillets, ribs, angles, corners, holes or depressions, and which caps may be of various lengths to serve as extensions for the leveling or bracing stem.

The foregoing objects and advantages, with others hereinafter appearing, are attained in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the jack; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a machine tool table and a piece of work clamped thereon and supported and braced by two of my improved jacks; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one form of cap for application to the extension of the leveling or bracing stem of the jack; Fig. 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, of another form of cap which, because of its length, may serve as an auxiliary extension for the stem, and Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a further form of cap.

Turning now to a detailed description of the invention by the use of reference characters, like ones of which designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing, I is a base, shown as rectangular in plan, and rising from the base, adjacent the lateral edges thereof, are ears 2. The base is provided adjacent one of its ends with an abutment 3, illustrated as integral with the base, and near its other end there is an aperture 4.

5 designates the body or stem of the jack, desirably cylindrical in form, and adjacent its lower end said body or stem is formed with a transversfi boss 6 having a bore for the reception of a pivotv pin 1 whose ends occup apertures in the ears 2'. By virtue of its pivotal connection with the base, thus provided, the body or stem .i'may be swung between a vertical or leveling position, wherein" its axis is normal to. the plane of the base, and any inclined bracing position, up to one where-' in said axis is at an angle of 45, more or less; to said plane. The body or stem is adapted to be held in any bracing position against return. to leveling position by-a screw 8 that is. threaded through a lug 53 which extends from the side of the body or stem opposite that on which theboss 6 is located, thereby to dispose saidlug in overhanging relation to the abutment 3. Therounded lower end of the screw 8 engages the curved face ID of the abutment 3, the curvature of said face being such that regardless of the angular relation between the body or stem 5 .and the base I, the axis of the screw 8 is normal to the portion of the face ll] wherewith it engages.

The stem 5 has a smooth axial bore l2 within which is slidable an extension member or jack screw l3. Operating on'said screw is a nut l5 that rests on the top of the stem 5 and, by turning this nut, the jack screw may be raised or lowered. Thedack screw is held againstturning: with respect to the stem by a screw [6 that is threaded through the wall of th stem and whose reduced inner end occupies a groove or spline i? that extends longitudinally of the jack screw. A stop it, adjacent the lower end of the spline, prevents complete withdrawal of the jack screw from the bore of the stem 5 by its engagement with the end of the screw I6. The jack screw is is equipped with a cylindrical head 20 which ma directly engage the work, especially in a leveling operation, provided the surface that is contacted by the head is suitable for the reception of the latter, as otherwise a cap of appropriat shape may be applied to said head.

Examples of caps for application to the head of the jack screw are shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, as well as in Fig. 3 where a cap of the design illustrated in Fig. 4 is applied to the head of the jack screw and is engaged within an angle of the work W. The work is shown as clamped, by means designated generally by the reference letter M, to the table T of a machine tool, said table being provided with the usual T-slots t. Two of my combined leveling and bracing jacks are shown in Fig. 3, one functioning as a leveling means and being disposed in a vertical position beneath an overhang w of the work, while the other has itsstem inclined at a br ci ang e and a cap C applied to the head of the jack screw and engaged within an angle between said overhang w and the body of the work. The last mentioned jack is shown as fastened to the bed of the machine by a bolt B. The head of the bolt occupies one of the T-slots of th table and said bolt is extended upwardly through the hole 4 in the base of the jack and thereabove has a nut N applied to it.

The caps C, C and C shown respectively in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, are provided at their inner ends with axial recesses c of a size and shape to readily receive the head 20 of the jack screw l3. The

upper end of the cap C is symmetrically chamical, for engagement within a hole or depression of the work. The top of the cap C has a V-notch c for engagement with a protruding corner between angularly related surfaces or walls of the work. Obviously, caps having many other and special shape work contacting portions may beaprovided according to the contour of the parts with which they are intended to be engaged; and the caps may be of various lengths to serve as auxiliary extensions of the jack screw l3 when a reach beyond the normal extended length of the stem is required.

The fact that the pivotal axis on which the stem swings with. respect to the base is offset from the axis of the stem in the direction of tilt, minimizes the tendency'of the jack to slip on the table of the machine tool when used for lateral bracing.

While I have shown and described a highly satisfactory and at present the preferred forrnof my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the strucl tural details of the illustrated embodiment further than required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

15A self-contained combined levelling and bracing jack for use on the tables of machine tools, the same including a base, a body pivoted directly to the base and comprising an extensible stem, the body being capable of adjustment between leveling position wherein the aXis of the stem is substantially normal to the plane of the bearing surface of the base and bracing 'position wherein said axis is at other than right angular relation to said plane, the body having a lateral extension and the base incorporating an abutment in opposed relation to said extension, and an adjusting screw threaded through the extension and bearing against the abutment for holding the body in bracing position against return to leveling position, the screw engaging face of said abutment being so shaped that the axis of the screw is substantially normal to the plane of that portion of the face engaged by the screw regardless of the angular relation of the body to the base.

2. A self-contained combined leveling and bracing jack for use on the tables of machine tools,

the same including a base, a body comprising an extensible stem, means pivotally'connecting the body to the base on an axis substantially parallel to the plane of the bearing surface of the base and oiTset laterally in one direction from theaxis of the stem, the body including a lug extending laterally from the stem in the direction opposite that aforesaid, said lug having a, threaded aperture whose axis is substantially parallel to that of the stem, an adjusting screw in said aperture, an

abutment on the base having a curved surface wherewith the end of said screw engagespthe curvature of said face being such that the axis of the adjusting screw is approximately radial to said face regardless of the angular relation between the body and base.

' file of this patent; V

UNITED STATES PATENTS CHARLES T. KETZ. i

Youtz 1 May 5,1896 

